Tom Pidcock was second ranked in the 9th stage of the return to Spain, behind Jonas Vingegaard and even ahead of João Almeida, with whom he shared the unsuccessful persecution to the Dane.
During the climb, João Almeida went to Pidcock, asking him to collaborate in the effort, but the British little help gave to the Portuguese, and after the arrival revealed to journalists what the UAE Emirates corridor told him.
«I told me to have more tomatoes and to pull. But if he was a little slower, maybe I could help him … ».
The Briton kept the focus and surpassed Almeida on the goal line to secure 2nd place, 24 seconds from Vingegaard. «I found Almeida a perfect wheel to follow. I still believed we could catch Jonas. But I take the hat to Almeida. I could not give him a relay, he is like a tractor, early in the more rolling parts. And in the last kilometer, when he accelerated, it was impressive. I barely managed to overtake him, ”said Pidcock.
With this result, the British rose to the 4th position of the general, 1.35 minutes from the red nightgown, Torstein Traeen (Bahrain Victorious).
